BENTON HARBOR, a city of Berrien county, Michigan, U.S.A., on the St. Joseph river, about mi. from Lake Michigan, with which it is connected by a ship-canal, and im. north-east of St. Joseph. It is served by the Michigan Central, the Pere Mar quette, and the Big Four railways, and by steamboat lines. The population in 1930 was 15,434. Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are joined by a wide street, parallel to the canal, lined with docks, factories, and business houses. Their combined population in 5928 was estimated locally at over 30,000, and this is doubled in summer by visitors in search of health and recreation at the mineral springs and pleasure resorts.
Benton Harbor has a large trade in peaches, grapes, pears, cherries, berries and apples. The leading industries are fruit canning and the manufacture of special machinery and all kinds of castings. The output of its 5o diversified establishments in 1927 was valued at $9,414,608. Benton Harbor was called Bron son Harbor until 1865. It was incorporated as a village in 1869, as a city in 1891.